THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: MADIYA & GOND
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES:
MADIA & GOND
~Aachal Burande
The Madia
& Gond communities are the tribal communities in India mostly occurred in
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh
is a nature lover's paradise. The state provides a glimpse of central India's
cultural potpourri and of the prevailing lifestyle. The tribes of Chhattisgarh
are mostly a primitive race who faithfully follow all traditional customs and
their archetypal age-old ritual. The tribes of Chhattisgarh are an unique race who mainly inhabit the dense
forests of Bastar. In fact more than 70% of Bastar's population is composed of
tribals who account for 26.76% of Chhattisgarh's entire tribal population.
The oldest and most populous tribe of
Chhattisagrh are the Gonds. The Gonds Tribals, who are also recognized as
the Koytorias are widely dispersed throughout the state. However they mainly
predominate the dense forests enclosed in southern Chhattisgarh's Bastar
District that accounts for more than 20% of Chhattisgarh's population. The
three principal sub castes of the aboriginal Gonds are the Dorla, Madia and
Muria races. The etymological significance of the term Gond is derived from the
Telegu connotation"Kond" meaning hill. The tribal economy is
predominantly agrarian. But the poverty stricken people also depend upon
forestry, local cottage industries, hunting and fisheries for their economic
subsistence. Some of the Gond people are however employed in cushy primary
sector jobs as well as other allied industries. The unique and one of a kind
Ghotul marriage tradition of the Gonds is renowned all across the world. They
mainly practice the traditional Hindu customs and marry within the family in
order to preserve the customary completion of the nuptial vows within the
family. Of course some of the romantic daredevils choose to elope with their
beloved. Gond marriages however are not a bed of roses. Remarriage, widow
marriage, divorce and marrying in laws as well as brothers and sisters are a
common affair. Gond society is somewhat matriarchal where the groom has to pay
a substantial dowry top the bride's family to pay his due respects.
The second most popular tribes is
Madia. The Madia of tribal people are one of the principal sub castes of the
Gond tribals. They live in isolation and inhabit the secluded enclaves of
Narayanpur tehsil of Bastar District. The area inhabited by the Madia tribals
are a dense forest that sprawls across nearly 1500 miles of lush greenery. The
Madia tribals are very very much feared by mankind. They are a primitive race
whose mannerisms are rather ferocious. They savage and barbaric tribesmen are
hostile to strangers are sometimes directly shoot them with their arrows. These
hill Maria tribals live in the forest enclosure in a world of their own,
completely out of the touch with human society. Money and other material
pleasures seldom tempt the people of this race. They are hardly effected by the
ravages of time and their recluse lifestyle not only keeps them out of touch
with modern civilization,it also helps to preserve their archetypal tradition
and customs. In fact the Maria are one of the few tribes that have many to keep
their quintessential culture alive and unaffected by the vestiges of time. The
tribal people are scantily clad and simply cover themselves with a loincloth.
However they are very fond of traditional ethnic jewelry are adorn themselves
with several iron rings strung around their neck. The women love wearing earring
and sometimes pierce as many as 14 holes in their ears and hang two rings or
studs from them. The Madia tribals are more bestial than human in their
characteristics. They seldom clean themselves or their garments. Even when
drinking water, they don't use the normal human convention of using a vessel or
container. Instead they drink straight from the pond replicating an animal.
The lifestyle of the tribal people is unique
and imbibed with traditional rituals and superstitions. Tribal communities of
Chhattisgarh are still
believe in superstition, they branding woman as a witch and belief of practice
of witchcraft. There are so many cases of atrocities against women in the name
of witchcraft. In 2005, the Chhattisgarh government passed the Witchcraft
(Prevention) Act and committee for elimination of witchcraft was formed but
witch hunts still occur today.
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